Drinks Cabinet: The Drouthy Cobbler

What is it: I love my whisky and this has led me to spend quite a lot of time in and around the world-famous whisky region of Speyside which has around half of the distilleries in Scotland crammed into a relatively small area, ensuring I can visit as many as possible when I am there. Most of the time I would base myself in "The Lantern of the North", better known as Elgin. The Drouthy Cobbler has been opened for quite a few years and in that time has built up a loyal following due to its great offering in authentic yet modern pub surroundings.

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Interesting fact: The name of the bar comes from a man called John Shanks. John was a cobbler, living on the north side of Elgin High Street. Appointed keeper of Elgin Cathedral in about 1824, he immediately set to work to clear away the accumulated rubbish that had remained there since the collapse of the central tower in 1711. John removed 3,000 barrowfuls of rubbish, laid bare the foundations of the pillars, the elevations at the altar and the steps at the West Gate. No-one who knew this Elgin shoemaker in 1824 had the slightest idea that he would ever be celebrated as the restorer and saviour of the "Lantern of the North". His thirst for whisky garnered him the "drouthy" sobriquet: drouthy being an old Scots word for thirsty, especially a keen thirst for strong liquor.

Verdict: The Drouthy has been here quite a few years and I actually don't know how I managed to miss it before. I was meeting colleagues for dinner and some drinks and was recommended the place to try out. My first impression was the almost hidden entrance up a small alley and into a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere in modern pub surrounding. The staff here really make it stand out for me – attentive, friendly and obviously happy in their job. I will be back here for sure next time I am up in this beautiful part of the country.

Drink: They tick almost all the boxes here. Over 130 whiskies, cocktails, wine, and a really good beer selection. The staff know their stuff as well and are more than happy to introduce you to new whiskies and local beers. I had a Sunshine on Keith IPA, which was zesty, refreshing and packed with flavour and paired that with a Macallan Edition no 3 Single Malt.

Food: As well as the main menu they also offer a great bar bites menu which is perfect for keeping yourself fuelled while enjoyed the extensive list of beer and whisky. You have to try the haggis bites and the Scottish scampi.

Prices: I found the prices pretty good here. It may be a bit more expensive than some of the other local pubs but the offering here is definitely a notch above.

Children: Children are more than welcome here. They don't have a children's menu as such but are happy to offer a children's portion of most dishes.

Alfresco: Great outside area with picnic benches in the alleyway, the only downside is that on the sunny days it probably only gets the suns rays for around and hour.

Perfect for: Travelling around Speyside for the day visiting distilleries then heading up to Elgin for the night and settling down in the Drouthy for some food and drinks.

Avoid if: You just stick to your big city hangouts and can’t be bothered exploring our beautiful country.

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